A young stowaway met his death when he dropped out of a plane in the skies above Heathrow. What made him embark on such a risky journey? David James Smith unravels a surprising tale of love and loss.

A Family At War – Inside the House of Mandela

Age and failing health are bringing Nelson Mandela to the end of his life. As he retreats from the world, his family is locked into an unseemly battle over his legacy — and stands accused of exploiting his name. David James Smith investigates.

More on my previously unsubstantiated claim that the writer-director Peter Kosminsky, creator of The Promise, is working on a drama about Nelson Mandela. I’ve now learnt that the project is a feature film, in development with Film 4, about the young Mandela. Kosminsky is currently at work on the script and, given the complaints about the anti-Jewish bias of The Promise, it is unlikely to be a standard bland portrait of the former South African president.

Latest Review

New York Times – J. M. Ledgard

Nelson Mandela was circumcised as a 16-year-old boy alongside a flowing river in the Eastern Cape. The ceremony was similar to those of other Bantu peoples. An elder moved through the line making ring-like cuts, and foreskins fell away. The boys could not so much as blink; it was a rite of passage that took you beyond pain. read full review